It took 10 years but the Bulls have a championship

Photo courtesy of Sal BanchettoThe Bulls pose for a photo after winning the Staten Island Softball Association men's medium pitch league title on Aug. 30 at Miller Field, New Dorp. In the picture from left to right back row are John Devine, Jim Scellato, Carmine Spangnuolo, Frank Roberts, Tim Gill, Sal Banchetto and Adam Goldberg. From left to right front row are Carl Maietta, George McLean, Joe Mirabello, Dave Yaverbaum, John Carrescia and Chris Gill.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- NEW DORP -- After a decade of despair, the Bulls of the Staten Island Softball Association are finally champions.

The team -- consisting of many long-time friends who have made up the club's core for all 10 years in the Miller Field-based men's medium pitch softball league -- grabbed the crown on Aug. 30.

Coming out of the winners' bracket, the Bulls needed to take one of two games that afternoon in New Dorp for the title. After dropping the first game to the A's 10-4, the Bulls regrouped for a 5-3 victory.

Dongan Hills resident John Carrescia struck out five and was the winning pitcher and received offensive support from Eltingville's Adam Goldberg, who drove in fours runs with a double, triple and home runs.

The defense was led by Oakwood resident Joe Mirabello and George McLean of Dongan Hills, each of whom was forced to play out of position because of an injury -- with Mirabello moving from third base to shortstop, and McLean going from second base to third.

"We had played in the championship round a couple of times, in 2002 and 2004, but both times we had to come out of the losers' bracket and needed to win two games that final day for the title, and we couldn't do it," reflected Oakwood resident Sal Banchetto, who skippers the team along with player/coach Tim Gill of Grant City.